Are you prepared? Essential conversations …talking about death and dying

Talking about dying is not an easy topic; it’s not something that fits neatly into bullet points or actionable processes. It is an intrinsically personal experience for everyone – possibly even more so when it involves dementia.

We have developed a website and DVD that acts as an ‘emotional resource’ for staff, helping them to enhance their skills and confidence in supporting people with dementia and their families.

We cannot make these discussions any less painful, but we can help encourage professionals to instigate and manage these sorts of discussions, recognising that a caring relationship which is person centred and positive can elicit respectful and timely discussions that can help a person and their family to ‘live well with the illness

Website and DVD

Contributions to this DVD and accompanying website www.essentialconversations.org.uk have been made by staff and carers involved with Alzheimer Scotland who were able to share their experiences of such conversations. It is designed to be watched in a single sitting, or alternatively in short segments taking time for reflection and discussion.

The film was made in partnership with Artlink and is part of the NCO Carer and Practitioner Workforce Training Grant Programme 2010/2011 which is managed by the National Carers Organisations with funded by the Scottish Government. For further information visit www.essentialconversations.org.uk or for a copy of the DVD contact jhenderson@alzscot.org telephone 01387 261303